Tennis Ball Buying Guide

Choosing a Tennis Ball

Maybe more than any other sport, tennis accessories can make or break your playing. And whether you’re a hardened pro or you’ve yet to pick up a racquet, choosing a tennis ball that fits your needs is an essential part of the game. To a beginner they may all look the same, but there are dozens of distinctions between various tennis balls -- and over 200 brands approved by the International Tennis Federation -- so it can be daunting to figure out the best tennis balls for you.

Does the color matter? What does altitude have to do with tennis? What are the fastest tennis balls? Best spin tennis balls? Elbow ease tennis balls? If any of these questions have crossed your mind when choosing a tennis ball, you’re in the right place. At Midwest Sports, you’ll find an assortment of practice tennis balls, kids’ tennis balls, tournament tennis balls, elbow ease tennis balls, and more from top brands like Wilson, Dunlop, Penn, Wilson, and Babolat. And here we’ll sort through it all so you’ll make the right choice today and in the future!

When it comes to the types of tennis balls, there’s no shortage of levels, stages, colors, and other classifications. So what do they all mean? Let’s start with the basics of choosing a tennis ball.

Best Tennis Balls for You: Recreational, Championship, or Professional?

There are three basic quality levels of tennis balls produced by the top manufacturers: recreational level, championship level, and professional level. For the most part these levels are self-explanatory: the recreational tennis balls are great for tennis machines and other practice uses; championship level balls are a step up and can be used for league match play; the professional level is the highest quality you can buy. These are your tour tennis balls used by the pros.

Types of Tennis Balls: Pressureless or Pressurized?

Another important thing to keep an eye out for when selecting tennis balls is the distinction between pressurized and pressureless tennis balls. Pressureless balls are often used for beginners, practice, or recreational play. They achieve bounce from the rubber shell structure and not from air on the inside. Because of this, pressureless balls won’t lose their bounce like standard balls -- they actually gain bounce over time as the outer felt begins to fade. Many players may enjoy the longevity of pressureless tennis balls, but others consider them heavier and harder to play.

Pressurized balls are your tournament tennis balls used by the pros and are much more common. They utilize internal air pressure that gives greater bounce, speed, and spin fresh out of the can but which quickly fades over time. A study found that the lifespan of most pressurized tour tennis balls is at most two weeks, and many are used for only a single match.

Regular Duty vs. Extra Duty

When you’re on the lookout for new tennis balls, the type of court you play on matters. It’s pretty simple: if you frequent clay courts or indoor courts, you’ll want regular duty tennis balls; if you play on hard courts, go for extra duty. Regular duty tennis balls have thinner felt that lessens the amount of clay absorbed on impact, while extra duty felt will hold up better on the more demanding hard courts and grass surfaces.

High Altitude

When selecting tennis balls, it’s important to keep in mind where you’re hitting the court. Playing at high altitudes can cause pressurized tennis balls to bounce higher and travel faster, which is problematic for all types of players. The ITF considers “high altitude” to be 4,000 feet or higher. If you’re playing at or above this altitude, you’ll want to invest in specialized high-altitude tennis balls that are created to minimize these issues and promote a more normal feel on the court.

For Beginners and Kids

If you’re just starting out or you’re introducing your kids to the sport, there are a variety of beginner tennis balls that are specially designed for slower play. The fastest tennis balls may suit the pros, but slower-moving foam tennis balls are great for teaching and training, or you could try out one of three stages of beginner balls:

Stage 3 (Red): These beginner balls are created for young children (typically 10 years or younger) to help build skills, develop proper movement, fine-tune coordination, and boost confidence. Approved for play on a 36 foot court format.

Stage 2 (Orange): These are reduced flight balls and are great for use on reduced length 60 foot courts. While more advanced than Stage 3, these will still slow down the game.

Stage 1 (Green): The last stage before a tournament tennis ball, these feature a slightly lower bounce and help beginners use proper technique. Typically used on a full size 78 foot length tennis court.

Specialty Tennis Balls

Choosing a tennis ball is much more complicated than it looks, and on top of all the standard distinctions you’ll also find a variety of specialty tennis balls on the market. From elbow ease tennis balls, which are designed reduce arm impact, to longer-lasting core technology that helps promote bounce longevity, there are all types of tennis balls to explore.

Conclusion

Selecting tennis balls is not as easy as it looks! Finding the best tennis balls for your skill set, court choice, and location can sometimes seem complicated, but soon it will be second nature. Whether you prefer the fastest tennis balls, the best spin tennis balls, or tour tennis balls, there’s no shortage of choices out there.